Police are classifying the death of a man found Monday along the Trolley Track Trail as a homicide.
Officials have identified him as Chase Hardin, 31. KCPD said at 7:57 a.m. officers were called to the 8600 block of Woodland on a body being found.
When police arrived, a man walking his dog told officers he discovered the body among this thick brush just off the trail.
“The circumstances appear to be suspicious but until we have an exact cause of death until that this is determined it’s going to be worked as a death investigation,” Captain Stacey Graves, a KCPD spokesperson said.
The discovery also surprised neighbors like Latanya Harris.
“‘I’ve never had any problems in the neighborhood I’m also a foster parent and my kids go out and play and ride their scooters and bicycles up and down the street and we never had any problems on the block,” Harris said.
Some Trolley trail users tell 41 Action News they take precautions.
“When you go into the woods you can see some evidence that people are staying there for a few days,” Katherine said.
She used to walk the Indian Creek Trail but after a recent string of violent crimes including a homicide she now avoids it.
Police did caution the public from jumping to conclusions.
“We have no indication that this is related to the other four homicides that have occurred in or around the Indian Creek Trail and in addition to that, we don't have any physical evidence that are linking those four homicides,” Graves said.
Police said the man found Monday was at the location for some time.
If you know anything about this death or noticed anything unusually in the area of 86th and woodland in the last few days or weeks, call police or the KC Crimestoppers Hotline 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Interim @kcpolice Chief David Zimmerman at the scene of a suspicious death off of @KCMOParks' Trolley Trail. @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/TaXTGNuxGd
— Andres Gutierrez (@AFGutierrez) May 29, 2017
